NOVEMBER 2000: Chris Rodway, a 47-year-old hospital engineer, is killed by a car bomb in Riyadh. Other bomb explosions follow. The Saudis blame westerners who they say are at war over an alcohol-smuggling racket.

DECEMBER 2000: Five Britons, including Mr Cottle, are arrested. A Canadian and a Belgian are also held.

FEBRUARY 2001: Three of the men "confess" to their part in the bombings.

AUGUST 2001: Mr Cottle makes his TV "confession" to planting a car bomb in Al Khobar. Even some of the victims say the confession cannot be true.

JANUARY 2002: The government steps up pressure to secure the men's release after Tony Blair raises the issue with the Saudi royal family.

APRIL 2002: Mary Martini, Mr Cottle's ex-wife, reveals Mr Cottle has been "secretly" sentenced to 18 years in prison. Two of his fellow prisoners are sentenced to death by beheading. But the bombings continue.

FEBRUARY 2003: Mr Cottle's family go to London to seek Foreign Office help in securing the men's freedom.

AUGUST 2003: Mr Cottle and four other British men are granted clemency and fly home. They later reveal they plan to sue the Saudi government.

SEPTEMBER 2003: Mr Cottle says publicly his confession was false and extracted under torture.

FEBRUARY 2004: Mr Cottle claims he has medical evidence of beatings at the hands of his Saudi captors.